Intense clashes erupted between local residents and border guard forces in Khor Bahu, located in the Gwatar area of Dashtyari County, following the sinking of four Sukhtbar’s boats after colliding with border guard patrol boats.
According to Kolbarnews, this incident occurred on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The border guard forces, who had covered their faces, rammed into the fuel boats and, after coming ashore, threatened the local residents with gunfire, sparking a heated verbal confrontation.
This incident comes amid an increase in border guard and naval operations in the Gulf of Gwatar and along the water border of Balochistan in recent weeks. These forces have been pursuing and destroying Sukhtbari boats and arresting several Sukhtbars.
The growing cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan in the Balochistan border region has heightened pressure on Sukhtbars. On one hand, the Pakistani military has barred smugglers from crossing the border, while on the other hand, Iran’s border guards have intensified efforts to close the water border and prevent Baloch Sukhtbari.
It’s worth noting that in a similar incident on October 9, border forces attacked the coastal areas of Pasabandar, resulting in the death of one person and the arrest of several other Sukhtbars.
Sukhtbari is considered an unconventional and hazardous job that many Baluch people in Baluchistan are forced into due to the lack of suitable and stable employment. Accidents, vehicle rollovers, and direct shootings by military and security forces are some of the dangers that Sukhtbars face. According to reports from Baluch activists, in the first six months of 2024, at least 133 Baluch Sukhtbars have died from shootings by military forces, traffic accidents, and vehicle fires, with another 80 injured in these incidents, including nine children.
